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Lagoon Drawbridge Replacement Work Begins Early 2007

The first phase of the Lagoon Pond drawbridge replacement project
- the construction of a temporary bridge on the pond side of the
span - is now slated to begin in the new year rather than this
fall as planned.

Word came Wednesday during a public meeting at the Martha's
Vineyard Commission. Called to discuss the design process for the
bridge's permanent replacement, the meeting ranged across a number
of related issues - including the temporary bridge, which has been
a subject of concern for Vineyarders since the project's earliest
days.

Steve McLaughlin, chief engineer and project manager for
MassHighway, said that the state highway agency published its request
for proposals for the temporary bridge last Saturday, and will keep the
bid period open until Nov. 21. He added that the winning bid would not
be awarded to a contractor until January, after which time work will
begin.

The news came as somewhat of a surprise to members of the Lagoon
Pond drawbridge committee, the regional advocacy group that has been
charged with providing recommendations to the state. Committee members
had been under the impression that construction of the temporary bridge
would begin this fall.

"We always thought that the November date was for the start of
construction, but there was obviously a miscommunication,"
committee chairman Melinda Loberg said yesterday. "What it does is
push back any work in the water until after April 15 because of state
fisheries regulations, but the state has said they are still on track to
get the temporary bridge up by next summer.

"We are talking about a month, really, so we are not looking
at this as a major setback or delay at this time," she added.

The regulations, imposed by the Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries, prohibit any work in the water between Jan. 1 and April 15
because of the spawning season of summer flounder - meaning that
pilings cannot be installed until the spring.

Estimated costs for both bridges also have changed - rising to
about $6.5 million for the temporary bridge and $25 million for the
permanent replacement. Mr. McLaughlin attributed the change to the
rising costs of materials, but said the state has earmarked enough money
to cover further increases.

The drawbridge, which was built in 1935, is a vital link in the
Vineyard road system, providing critical access to the Martha's
Vineyard Hospital and connecting Oak Bluffs and Tisbury. Since
discussion about a replacement began several years ago, state highway
officials have pushed the long-term plan for a two-bridge solution. The
temporary bridge will be built alongside the existing bridge, while it
is demolished and replaced. Construction is expected to run through
2013.

On Wednesday, more than a dozen residents turned out for the latest
update on the project. With Mr. McLaughlin was Peter Donohue, senior
project manager for Parsons Transportation Group, which earlier this
summer was awarded the job of designing the permanent bridge; there is,
however, still no contract between the firm and the state.

Mr. Donohue and Mr. McLaughlin took turns explaining the design
process for the permanent bridge, which Mr. McLaughlin said may take
about two years.

Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Donohue also outlined the issues that need to
be resolved in the coming months - namely the vertical height of
the permanent bridge. The Parsons group has recommended increasing the
height by four feet, but suggested getting community consensus first.

"Four feet is probably optimal height," Mr. Donohue
said. "Anything else and we may run into problems with the walls
on the sides with greater impacts."

Mr. Donohue also addressed other areas of concern, including the
channel alignment, the width of the new bridge and a proposed bike path
across the span. Audience members raised their concerns, which ranged
from whether to have a single or double bascule (a device balanced so
that when one end is lowered the other is raised, thus opening the
bridge) to the hours of construction.

The public will have a chance to weigh in on these and any other
concerns about the design of the permanent bridge in the coming months.

Mr. McLaughlin said the state will meet quarterly with the
drawbridge committee and will release a marine clearance and opening
study, followed by a bridge type study that will include a public
hearing. This will all take place before the state reaches the 25 per
cent design stage for the permanent bridge, at which point changes to
the design become harder to make.

"There are still many opportunities for public input, but they
should voice their concerns at any time if they have them," Ms.
Loberg said. "There are still a lot of issues to talk
about."